Niles Shepherd of the Valley resident, Ann Schenkel, celebrated her 100th birthday with a lunch and party at the facility with her family, friends and SOV staff.
Schenkel was born Jan. 29, 1911, in Campbell and grew up on a farm where she helped with the everyday chores, including taking care of the chickens.
After graduating from Fowler High School in 1929, Schenkel went to nursing school and graduated in 1932 as registered nurse.
For the next 50 years, she worked as a private duty nurse until she retired in 1982.
During that time, she met and married her husband, Charles Schenkel, and although they never had children of their own, in 1991, she and Charles became close friends of their tenants, Shawn Stevens and his wife, Joann Mohn.
Remaining close to the Schenkels, Shawn would help with repairs around the house and would sit and talk in the garage with Charles. It was during one of those talks that Charles asked Shawn to take care of Schenkel if anything should happen to him.
After Charles passed away, they kept that promise.
''It wasn't hard to fall in love with her,'' said JoAnn Mohn.
When Schenkel decided to move to Shepherd of the Valley a few years ago, where JoAnn, working there as an aid, and her two daughters, Shannon, a nurse and Jessica, also an aide, work on the same floor where Schenkel lives.
When asked what contributed to her long life, Schenkel said, ''... hard work and a loving husband.''
A party for Schenkel was held Jan. 28 at the facility. Schenkel's ''adopted'' family decorated her room and provided cake for the residents and staff to enjoy.